The power of uncertainty

This is a wonderful book to describe contemporary world in terms of understanding it in a newer way. Through examples of Indian situation, with limited levels of evidences, the author shows that institutions of past and present could be replaced with new ones. He puts running economic theory into perspective and trashes those institutions which created certainty of market forces on neo-classical school. Calling certainty of 20th Century into question, many of which were dictated by politico-economic situation of 20th Century, Dr Shah's limited example in Indian situation calls for creative imagination in building novel institutions wherein power of nature and people needs a very imaginative weaving together. To practitioners of sustainability working in special conditions of vast majority of underdeveloped districts of India, presentations of this book would serve as lodestar as the author also is a sitting member of politico-economic institution of central planning system of India, which is called Planning Commission. His views echoes views in many ways that of its academician premier, Dr Manmohan Singh, though, policies of allocation of natural resources under regime of Dr Singh has run into mega-scandals in sectors such as telecommunication and coal. Other disturbing policies had been that of allocation of quality land to corporate through equally dubious mechanisms. The government needs a great deal of learning in terms of institutional reforms to make economic policies such which make growth sustainable and reforms are seeded into life of common citizens not that reforms are carried out at the expense of common man. Some of alibi allocation of natural resources in arbitrary manner is "to make service or goods delivery" to common man "cheaper" by "favoured corporates". Corporatisation of Indian polity has never been to this scale when work of protection of interests is being carried out by ruling governments in Union and state levels. That also shows that corporatism has deep roots in Indian politics and that results in hijacking of political system in its operationalisation of democracy. Funding of elections by corporatist lobby is clear as well as corporatist-turned-politicians or politicians-corporatists are donning colors of spectrum of Indian political parties. In these circumstances, there is a lot of uncertainty in Indian political horizon which provides ideal ground for comprehensive reforms or what Dr Shah calls transformation. Some of transformations indicated in the book are to make ossified delivery of public services to rural India. Dr Shah's propositions for new age institutions is in support or may provide direction to all those forces which have been working at grassroot levels in meaningful manner as well as the book captures certain type of "activist" role of state through "CHANGE AGENTS" like Dr Shah who sits in top policy institution of current government such as Planning Commission or National Advisory Council. Over all the book is a must for all those who envision new India coming to terms with its own future in its own way- India which stands on its feet. India which Dr Kalam, former President of India, has told is a clear possibility of being superpower. Be that or not, the books flavour is to spawn creative realism for a smoother transition of Indian polity towards a more just nation to its people and natural resources.